Head of the Charles Regatta

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The two-day rowing race, Head of the Charles Regatta, has brought athletes and spectators to the banks of the Charles River since 1965. Hundreds of thousands of people come to see the world’s top crew teams compete on the challenging 3-mile course that includes six bridges. — Leanne Burden Seidel and Lisa Tuite

Boston Globe Archive photo

Oct. 27, 1968: The Eliot Bridge was only lightly populated with spectators in 1968.

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Oct. 24, 1971: The Head of the Charles Regatta had 325 shells and 1,344 oarsmen making it then the largest rowing event of its kind in North America. It surpassed the Boston Marathon, which had 1,174 registered runners the previous April.

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Oct. 22, 1978: Laurie Perkins of the Cornell Women's Elite Eight-Oared Shells enjoyed a beer at the end of the Head of the Charles Regatta. While no money was awarded, free beer was a perk after the race. At one point in the race's history, the Schaefer Brewing Co. offered a trophy, printed the program, and provided the free beer.

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Oct. 22, 1978: Members of the Cornell women's eight crew put up their shell and called it a day after participating in the Head of the Charles Regatta. The University of Wisconsin won the women's eight race.

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Oct. 24, 1982: The Wood family perused the program of events at the Head of the Charles Regatta. From left, Maryann Woods, Kim Woods, who was a rower with the Wisconsin Women's Elite-Eight-Oared shell, Chris Wood and Jan Wood decided what to watch next. Wisconsin did not win their race, which was won by the 1980 Rowing Club, comprising women who had been denied a chance to row in the 1980 Olympics, which were boycotted by the United States.

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Oct. 20, 1991: Feet dangled from the Larz Anderson Bridge as the competitors passed below, only a few of the 220,000 spectators who crowded the banks and bridges of the Charles River for the 27th annual regatta.